Buzzin’ Brood Student Spotlight: Anushka Dhekne, Machine Learning Intern, BioBuzz
Anushka Dhekne’s journey into machine learning and AI is driven by a deep curiosity and a passion for technology’s transformative potential. A recent MS in Computer Science graduate from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, Anushka is making strides in AI applications in healthcare, personalized content delivery, and cloud-based MLOps.
September 25, 2024
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How did you get here?
My journey into machine learning and AI has been driven by a fascination with technology’s power to solve real-world problems. Growing up, I was always curious about how things work, which led me to pursue Computer Engineering at Savitribai Phule Pune University. During my undergraduate years, I developed a strong foundation in programming, cloud computing, and data analytics.
After graduation, I worked as a Software Engineer at Harbinger Group, where I designed data-driven solutions in the healthcare domain. One of my proudest achievements there was implementing a predictive system for diagnosing brain diseases, which delivered an impressive 93% accuracy rate. This experience ignited my passion for AI, especially in the fields of NLP and predictive modeling.
Pursuing my MS in Computer Science at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) was a natural next step. UMBC gave me opportunities to delve deeper into machine learning and MLOps, and I started my internship at Workforce Genetics, where I focus on building LLM models and optimizing cloud-based ML pipelines. This internship has not only sharpened my technical skills but also solidified my belief in the transformative potential of AI across industries, especially in personalized content delivery and automated decision-making for the bio hub of life sciences.
What is currently blowing your mind right now?
- Generative AI and Large Language Models (LLMs): The evolution of LLMs and how they can transform content personalization and recommendation systems. Fine-tuning these models for practical applications, such as job-matching and customer support, is an area I’m currently diving deep into.
- MLOps Pipelines in the Cloud: The seamless integration of machine learning models into CI/CD workflows fascinates me. Working on optimizing cloud infrastructure with tools like AWS, GCP, and Azure is giving me a glimpse into how scalable AI solutions can truly be.
- AI in Healthcare: I’m continuously amazed by AI’s potential to improve healthcare systems, such as the NLP model I helped build at Harbinger to reduce medical errors and enhance diagnostics. The possibility of AI reducing human error and improving patient outcomes excites me every day.
If you could explain yourself right now in only emojis, what would those be?
If you could travel into the future… what does your LinkedIn Headline say?
“Anushka Dhekne – Lead Machine Learning Engineer Architect | Expert in ML, GenAI, LLMs, AI, and Cloud Solutions”
In the future, I envision myself leading AI-driven initiatives, particularly in the healthcare and tech industries. I aspire to drive innovation by building state-of-the-art machine learning pipelines and LLMs that can power personalized, scalable AI solutions across industries. I hope to connect with professionals and companies that are equally passionate about pushing the envelope on what AI can achieve.
What is your favorite quote and why?
“The only way to do great work is to love what you do.” – Steve Jobs
This quote resonates with me because it mirrors my approach to my career in AI and machine learning. I’ve always believed that passion is the key driver behind success. Whether I’m building LLM pipelines, optimizing MLOps workflows, or coding, I find joy in solving challenges and continuously learning. Loving what I do pushes me to go beyond merely delivering results; it motivates me to seek new ideas, stay curious, and remain committed to excellence.
